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The study was conducted to report on the use of molecular biology methods and pregnancy outcome in women sensitized to either Rhesus D (RhD) or Kell 1 (K1) antigens. Paternal RhD genotype was determined by DNA amplification of an RhD-specific sequence from single sperm cells. Paternal Kell phenotype was determined by serologic assays using peripheral blood samples, and the fetal RhD or Kell-type status were established by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with amniotic cells. Thirteen women (14 pregnancies, one with twins) sensitized to RhD and four sensitized to K1 antigens, comprised the study group. All had paternal heterozygosity to either D or K1 antigens. Nine fetuses were RhD positive and five were RhD negative. An additional woman underwent early spontaneous abortion. The nine RhD-positive fetuses underwent a total of 41 invasive procedures. One fetus with hydrops fetalis died in utero after intrauterine blood transfusion. All the remaining RhD-positive fetuses were delivered after 33 weeks gestation, and all those who were RhD negative were delivered at term. Four women were sensitized to the K1 antigen; in three, the fetus was found to be K1 negative, and in one, K1 positive, necessitating intrauterine blood transfusion. In all cases, the results of RhD or K1 genotype analyses from amniotic fluid were compatible with fetal/neonatal red blood cell RhD or Kell phenotypes. In conclusion, the use of molecular biology techniques represents a major advance in the clinical management of RhD and Kell alloimmunization.

Objective: To measure renal reabsorption of inorganic phosphorus and the calciotropic hormones in early and late pregnancy., Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study., Setting: Endocrine Institute at Assaf Harofeh and E. Wolfson Medical Centers; the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sheba Medical Centre and Tel Aviv University., Population: Three groups of healthy women were studied: pregnant women at the end of the first trimester (n = 20), pregnant women at the end of the third, trimester (n = 22), and nonpregnant controls (n = 27)., Methods and Main Outcome Measures: The renal tubular maximal phosphorus reabsorption per decilitre of glomerular filtrate (TmP/GFR) was measured in all women. Circulating levels of intact parathyroid hormone, calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3) and insulin-like growth factor I were assayed in part of the women (8-11 of each group)., Results: TmP/GFR was elevated in the first trimester group (mean 0.263 mmol/L) compared with controls (95% CI 0.07-0.46, P = 0.003). Third trimester values did not differ from controls. Serum calcitriol in the first trimester group was higher (mean difference 17.68 pg/mL) compared with controls (95% CI 3.89-31.47, P = 0.006) and was higher still (mean difference 20.75 pg/mL) in the third trimester group (95% CI 1.01-40.49, P = 0.042). Serum parathyroid hormone in the first trimester group was lower than in controls or the third trimester group: mean differences were 4.40 pg/mL (95% CI-1.40 to 10.15, P = 0.078) and 8.18 pg/mL (95% CI 0.51-15.85, P = 0.019) respectively. Parathyroid hormone levels correlated negatively to calcitriol levels in the combined control and first trimester groups (r = -0.54, P = 0.022) and negatively to TmP/GFR values in the combined three groups (r = -0.68, P = 0.042). First trimester levels of insulin-like growth factor I were lower than those in controls or in the third trimester: mean differences were 10.24 nmol/L (95% CI 2.05-18.43, P = 0.007) and 13.57 nmol/L (95% CI 4.23-22.91, P = 0.003), respectively., Conclusions: The dominant change in mineral metabolism in pregnancy is a rise in calcitriol which most probably is responsible for the relative suppression of parathyroid hormone and thereby for the rise in TmP/GFR in early pregnancy. All the above support the transfer of minerals to the fetus without compromising maternal bone. The significance of circulating insulin-like growth factor I remains unclear.

Oocyte donation has become a common treatment modality for a large spectrum of infertility conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the success rate of a shared egg donation programme, and to define the profile of a successful 'donor-recipient' couple in view of the limitations imposed by the shared programme. The results of all consecutive cycles of egg donation from 1st January 1995 to 31st December 1996 were analysed. A total of 383 donor cycles were matched with 946 recipient cycles; clinical pregnancy rates were 23. 5 and 16.7% respectively. With the exception of endometriosis, which significantly reduced the pregnancy rate in both groups, similar pregnancy rates were obtained in both groups for all the other infertility aetiologies of the donors. The donor's age had no impact on pregnancy rate of the recipient, but pregnancy rate was significantly decreased in donors >35 years. Recipients >50 years had significantly reduced pregnancy rates and those >45 years a significantly increased abortion rate. Recipients with severe male factor infertility, who had intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, showed pregnancy rates equivalent to those recipients who had regular in-vitro fertilization. We conclude that in a shared egg donation programme, the recipients' pregnancy rate and outcome are dependent only on the donors' infertility aetiologies and on recipients' ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]